The Elm City, N.C. native was one of 10 players selected to the team in a vote by Sports Information Directors from North Carolina. He was one of three seniors to make the All-State first team.

Atkinson earned first-team All-Big South honors after averaging 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Atkinson, who led UNC Asheville in scoring and rebounding, scored in double-figures in 31 of UNC Asheville’s 32 games. He scored a career-high 31 points in UNC Asheville’s 72-65 upset win at St. John’s.